Students at Beachwood's Agnon School give thanks, learn of Israeli-Hamas conflict

BEACHWOOD -- It was a day of thanks and a day of learning at The Agnon School in Beachwood.

On Nov. 20, the private school that teaches Jewish values celebrated Thanksgiving with songs and laughter. But, part of the day was spent with the more sobering aspect of the Jewish reality — learning about the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

“We’ve been learning about (the conflict) all week in Hebrew class,” said eighth-grader David Buchinsky, 13, of Solon. “Personally, I don’t take sides. Both sides are at fault in some way.”

Buchinsky, who hopes for peace for both sides, said Israel is doing what it can to target government leaders and not civilians in Gaza.

“They tell people to evacuate before they bomb, but (Hamas) will sometimes hide their weapons among civilians,” he said.

Buchinsky is looking forward to a class trip to Israel scheduled for April. It will be his first trip there.

Fellow eighth-grader Asaf Roth, conversely, has been to Israel with his family several times.

“My whole mother’s side of the family lives there,” he said. “We go there once a year. I love it there.”

Roth said Israel is doing what it must to protect its civilians as rockets from Gaza have been directed at Israeli towns. Like Buchinsky, Roth understands there are two sides to every conflict. He said Agnon School teachers have made that clear.

Speaking of those living in Gaza, Roth said, “They’re people, too, and they live there. They should all be living under one government in peace.”

Head of School Jerry Isaak-Shapiro said the Thanksgiving activities are enjoyed yearly, but with the conflict taking place now in the Middle East, this was an opportunity to teach.

“For the older grades, the discussion was a little more sophisticated, and it was more age-appropriate for the younger ones,” he said. “We speak about Israel and talk about what a beautiful culture it is.

“So much of western media discusses the Middle East in terms of stark overlays. Israel is not just soldiers and borders, but a tremendous experiment in how Jews will carry themselves when given the opportunity.”

In addition to discussing the Israeli-Hamas conflict, students also made posters in support of Israel that were hung in the lobby of the school, 26500 Shaker Blvd.

As for the fun part, all of the school’s 342 students attended an assembly at the end of the day, singing songs of their invention about Thanksgiving.

The school, which includes kindergarten through eighth-grade students, has younger classes and upper classes serve as each other’s “buddies.” As such, the classes teamed to sing songs of Thanksgiving Day.

For example, the kindergarten and eighth-grade classes joined to sing “You’re Not a Turkey on This Thanksgiving Day.” First- and sixth-graders did a song/rap in “gobble, gobble style,” jumping up and down as they sang.

Second- and fifth-graders partnered to sing “Agnon is a Good Time” to the tune of Owl City & Carly Rae Jepson’s hit, “Good Time.”

While giving thanks, the students didn’t forget to help others. The students presented to representatives of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland for its Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs an oversized check for $1,366.

The money was collected through a “penny wars” donation contest won by the kindergarten class.

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